Dimeric Double Metal Salts of (-) Hydroxycitric Acid, Methods of Making and Uses of Same

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to soluble dimeric double metal salt compositions of (−)-hydroxycitric acid (“HCA”), as well as methods for making and using the same. The invention provides dimeric double metal salts of group IA and IIA of HCA (hereinafter, “DDM-HCAs”). The present invention provides methods to make DDM-HCAs of the invention which can be employed to alter the polar/ionic qualities of HCA salts and derivatives to improve solubility of HCA compositions. DDM-HCAs of the invention are soluble HCA-containing compositions useful as dietary supplements and suitable for manipulations under those conditions necessary for tabletting, encapsulation, and the production of dry powders, particularly for use as a beverage premix. Methods of use of the composition include treatment for suppression of appetite, for weight loss, for an increase in the rate of fat metabolism, for reduction in blood lipids and postprandial lipemia, and to increase the plasma level of (−)-hydroxycitric acid.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to dimeric double metal salt compositionsof (−)-hydroxycitric acid (“HCA”), as well as methods for making andusing the same.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

HCA is a naturally-occurring derivative of citric acid found in thefruit of members of the plant genus Garcinia. Free HCA, calcium,magnesium and potassium salts of HCA, and poorly characterized mixturesof two or more of these minerals have been sold in the American market,the calcium- and sodium HCA salts since 1994. Most of the commercialpreparations of HCA sold to date consist of calcium salts of varyingdegrees of purity or, more recently, poorly characterized mixtures ofcalcium HCA and potassium HCA salts.

HCA can affect the metabolism of mammals, including humans. HCA, as wellas several synthetic derivatives of citric acid, can inhibit theproduction of fatty acids from carbohydrates, suppress appetite, andinhibit weight gain (Sullivan et al., American Journal of ClinicalNutrition 1977; 30: 767). Numerous other benefits have been attributedto the use of HCA, including, for example, an increase in the metabolismof fat stores for energy and an increase in thermogenesis (themetabolism of energy sources to produce body heat in an otherwisewasteful cycle).

The therapeutic use of HCA salts has been limited, however, by theirpoor absorption and chemical instability at acidic pH, e.g.,inactivation of HCA salts via lactonization upon exposure to the acidicmilieu of the mammalian gut. HCA in either its favored form forbiological availability, as the potassium HCA salt, or in itssecondarily favored form for biological availability, as sodium HCAsalt, is extremely hygroscopic. As such, HCA in its more biologicallyactive forms can be only be maintained as a powder under well-controlleddry conditions. There remains a need for soluble HCA-containingcompositions suitable for inclusion in dry delivery formats, liquiddelivery, and in controlled-release vehicles.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides a dimeric, double metal salt of group IA andgroup IIA of HCA (hereinafter, “DDM-HCA”) of general formulas Formula I;Formula II; or Formula III, or any mixture thereof, as given below inTable 1), where X is IIA group metal: such as Be, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, or Ra;where Y is IA group metal: such as Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs, or Fr; and wherethe relative molar ratio of IIA group metal to IA group metal is from atleast about 1.0::3.5 to at least about 1.0::4.5. In one embodiment, theDDM-HCA is a composition where (i) X is magnesium metal; (ii) Y ispotassium metal; and (iii) the relative molar ratio of magnesium metalto potassium metal is from at least about 1.0::3.5 to at least about1.0::4.5.

TABLE 1 HCA Formulas I, II, and III

In one aspect, the invention provides a process of preparing DDM-HCA ofgeneral formula Formula I; Formula II; or Formula III, or any mixturethereof, as described and depicted above, comprising the steps of: (a)preparing a liquid HCA/lactone concentrate mixture; (b) partiallyneutralizing 2 molar equivalents of the liquid HCA/lactone concentratemixture with 4 molar equivalents of a group IA metal hydroxide underconditions wherein the reaction temperature is maintained from at leastabout 27° C. to at least about 33° C. to yield a partially neutralizedliquid HCA/lactone concentrate mixture; (c) reacting the partiallyneutralized liquid HCA/lactone concentrate mixture of step b with one(1) molar equivalent of a IIA metal hydroxide to yield a fullyneutralized liquid HCA/lactone concentrate mixture; (d) hydrolyzing thelactone component of the fully neutralized liquid HCA/lactoneconcentrate mixture of step c by heating the mixture to at least about60° C. until the pH of the mixture is stable from about pH 8.8 to aboutpH 9.2 to yield a HCA dimeric double metal salt solution; and (e)isolating the dimeric, double metal salts of group IA and group IIA ofHCA from the HCA dimeric, double metal salt solution of step d.

In one embodiment, a liquid HCA/lactone concentrate mixture is derivedfrom Garcinia is derived by extracting a (−)-hydroxycitric acid/lactoneconcentrate mixture from dried Garcinia rind. The process of preparingthe DDM-HCA, the preparation of the liquid HCA/lactone concentratemixture further comprises: (a) extracting HCA from a dried Garcinia rindwith demineralized (DM) water in an extractor for at least about 6 hoursto yield a first Garcinia extract and a once-extracted Garcinia rind;(b) filtering the first Garcinia extract of step a; (c) extracting theonce-extracted Garcinia rind of step a with DM water in an extractor forat least about 6 hours to yield a second Garcinia extract and atwice-extracted Garcinia rind; (d) filtering the second Garcinia extractof step c; (e) extracting the twice-extracted Garcinia of step c with DMwater in an extractor for at least about 6 hours to yield a thirdGarcinia extract and a three-times-extracted Garcinia rind; (f)filtering the third Garcinia extract of step e; (g) extracting thethree-times-extracted Garcinia rind of step e with DM water in anextractor for at least about 6 h yield a fourth Garcinia extract and afour-times-extracted Garcinia rind; (h) filtering the fourth Garciniaextract of step f; (i) combining the filtered Garcinia extracts fromstep b, step d, step f and step h to yield a combined Garcinia mixture;(j) homogenizing the combined Garcinia extract mixture; (k) loading thehomogenized Garcinia extract mixture of step j onto an anion exchangecolumn for adsorption of the HCA onto the anion exchange column foradsorption of the HCA onto the anion exchange column; (I) eluting theHCA from the anion exchange column with sodium hydroxide solution toyield an anion exchange purified HCA sodium salt solution; (m) loadingthe purified HCA sodium salt solution of step I onto a cation exchangecolumn for collection of free HCA as a free acid in a cation exchangepurified HCA solution; (n) bleaching the cation exchange purified HCAsolution of step m by mixing the cation exchange purified HCA solutionwith activated charcoal for about 1 hour at 80° C. to yield a bleachedHCA solution; (o) filtering the bleached HCA solution; (p) cooling thebleached HCA solution to room temperature (p); filtering the bleachedHCA solution; (q) loading the bleached HCA solution of step p onto acation exchange column to reduce the cation concentration of thebleached HCA solution; (r) loading the bleached HCA solution of step ponto an anion exchange column to reduce the chloride concentration ofthe bleached HCA solution to yield a HCA concentrate with at least about1.0 percent weight HCA concentration; and (s) aging the HCA concentrateof step q to yield the liquid HCA/lactone concentrate mixture; wherewherein the HCA lactone is present at a concentration of least about 20%weight percent of the total weight of the liquid HCA/lactone concentratemixture of the liquid HCA/lactone concentrate mixture.

In one embodiment of the process of preparing the DDM-HCA, theHCA/lactone concentrate mixture is partially neutralized, 2 molarequivalents of the liquid HCA/lactone concentrate mixture with 4 molarequivalents of a group IA metal hydroxide. The group IA metal hydroxidesolution is slowly added with mixing to the liquid HCA/lactoneconcentrate mixture under conditions wherein the reaction temperature ismaintained from at least about 27° C. to at least about 33° C. to yielda partially neutralized liquid HCA/lactone concentrate mixture. Group IAmetal hydroxides useful in the preparation of DDM-HCA include, but arenot limited to, e.g., LiOH; NaOH; KOH; RbOH; CsOH; and FrOH. In oneembodiment, the HCA/lactone concentrate mixture is maintained at leastabout 30° C. to yield a partially neutralized liquid HCA/lactoneconcentrate mixture. After partial neutralization with group IA metalhydroxide, the neutralized liquid HCA/lactone concentrate mixture slowlyreacted with mixing with one (1) molar equivalent of a IIA metalhydroxide to yield a fully neutralized liquid HCA/lactone concentratemixture. Group IIA metal hydroxides useful in the preparation of DDM-HCAinclude, e.g., Be(OH)₂; Mg(OH)₂; Ca(OH)₂; Sr(OH)₂; Ba(OH)₂; and Ra(OH)₂.The fully neutralized liquid HCA/lactone concentrate mixture is thenheated to at least about 60° C. until the pH of the mixture is stable toyield a stabilized DDM-HCA-containing mixture. In one embodiment, the pHof the HCA/lactone concentrate mixture is stabilized in a range fromabout pH 8.8 to about pH 9.2. The DDM-HCAs are then isolated from thestabilized DDM-HCA-containing mixture by any suitable separation orprocessing technique. In one embodiment, the DDM-HCAs are isolated fromthe stabilized DDM-HCA-containing solution by concentrating thestabilized DDM-HCA-containing solution to at least about 25% weighttotal solids to yield a concentrated DDM-HCA-containing solution. Theconcentrated DDM-HCA-containing solution is filtered and theDDM-HCA-containing filtrate is dried. In one embodiment,DDM-HCA-containing is dried using spray drying technique.

In another embodiment of the process of preparing the DDM-HCA, isolationof the DDM-HCA salt(s) from the DDM-HCA solution of step d furthercomprises: (a) concentrating the HCA dimeric, double metal salt solutionto at least about 25% weight percent total solids to yield aconcentrated HCA dimeric, double metal salt solution; (b) filtering theconcentrated HCA dimeric, double metal salt solution of step a to yielda filtrate; and (c) drying the filtrate of step b. In another embodimentof the process of preparing the DDM-HCA, the filtrate of step b is driedby spray drying. In another embodiment of the process of preparing theDDM-HCA, the group IA metal hydroxide is selected from LiOH; NaOH; KOH;RbOH; CsOH; or FrOH. In another embodiment of the process of preparingthe DDM-HCA, the group IIA metal hydroxide is selected from: Be(OH)₂;Mg(OH)₂; Ca(OH)₂; Sr(OH)₂; Ba(OH)₂; or Ra(OH)₂.

In another aspect, the DDM-HCA composition is formulated in a drydelivery system. In one embodiment, the dry delivery system is selectedfrom: a tablet; dry powder; or dry meal replacement mixture.

In another aspect, the DDM-HCA is formulated in a liquid deliverysystem. In one embodiment, the liquid delivery system is selected from:a capsule; caplet; or beverage.

In another aspect, the DDM-HCA is formulated in a controlled-releasesystem. In another embodiment, the controlled-release system is selectedfrom: a tablet; caplet; or capsule.

In another aspect, the invention provides a pharmaceutical compositioncontaining a DDM-HCA and a pharmaceutically-acceptable carrier.

In another aspect, the invention provided a method of suppressing theappetite in a subject, by administering to a subject in which appetitesuppression is desired a DDM-HCA in amount sufficient to suppress theappetite in the subject.

In another aspect, the invention provides a method of reducing thecytoplasmic citrate lyase activity in a subject by administering to asubject in which reducing cytoplasmic citrate lyase activity is desireda DDM-HCA in an amount sufficient to reduce the citrate lyase activity.

In another aspect, the invention provides a method of increasing the fatmetabolism in a subject by administering to a subject in which increasedfat metabolism is desired a DDM-HCA in an amount sufficient to increasefat metabolism.

In another aspect, the invention provides a method of inducingweight-loss in a subject, by administering to a subject in whichweight-loss is desired a DDM-HCA in an amount sufficient to induceweight-loss.

In another aspect, the invention provides a method of reducing bloodlipids and postprandial lipemia in a subject by administering to asubject in which reduced blood lipids and postprandial lipemia isdesired a DDM-HCA as described above in an amount sufficient to reduceblood lipids and postprandial lipemia.

In another aspect, the invention provides a method of modulating thelevel of HCA (generally by increasing it) in the plasma of a subject byadministering to the subject in which modulation of the level of HCA inthe plasma of a subject is desired, an amount of composition comprisinga one or more DDM-HCAs sufficient to modulate the level HCA in theplasma. In one embodiment of the method, the rate of appearance of HCAin the plasma of the subject treated with one or more DDM-HCA increasesthe plasma level significantly above a control level. The control levelmay be represented by the plasma HCA level prior to treatment, or thelevel of HCA in an untreated-, or placebo treated control subject. Theincrease in plasma level of HCA following treatment with a compositioncomprising one or more DDM-HCAs is due to influx from the gut, the HCA'scrossing the lining of the gut and being absorbed by the localcapillaries, and thereby entering the blood of the circulatory system.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram detailing the process of some embodimentsof the dimeric double metal salt hydroxycitric acid compositions(DDM-HCAs) of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION I. Conventions and Terms

A “subject,” as used herein, is preferably a mammal, such as a human,but can also be a non-human animal, e.g., domestic animals (e.g., dogs,cats and the like), farm animals (e.g., cows, sheep, pigs, horses andthe like), or laboratory animals (e.g., rats, mice, guinea pigs and thelike).

An “effective amount” of an DDM-HCA-containing composition of theinvention, as used herein, is a quantity sufficient to achieve a desiredtherapeutic and/or prophylactic effect, for example, an amount whichresults in the prevention of or a decrease in the symptoms associatedwith a disease, disorder or condition that is being treated, e.g.,obesity, weight gain, hunger, hyperlipemia, postprandial lipemia. Theamount of an DDM-HCA-containing composition of the inventionadministered to the subject will depend on the type and severity of thedisease, disorder or condition, and on the characteristics of theindividual, such as general health, age, sex, body weight and toleranceto drugs. It will also depend on the degree, severity and type ofdisease. The skilled artisan will be able to determine appropriatedosages depending on these and other factors.

It is advantageous to formulate oral compositions in dosage unit formfor ease of administration and uniformity of dosage. Dosage unit form asused herein refers to physically discrete units suited as unitarydosages for the subject to be treated; each unit containing apredetermined quantity of active compound calculated to produce thedesired therapeutic effect in association with the requiredpharmaceutical carrier. The specification for the dosage unit forms ofthe invention are dictated by- and directly dependent on the uniquecharacteristics of the dietary supplement, the particular therapeuticeffect to be achieved, and the limitations inherent in the art ofcompounding such an active compound for the treatment of individuals.The pharmaceutical compositions can be included in a container, pack, ordispenser together with instructions for administration. Typically, anoral dose is taken two- to four-times daily, until symptom relief isapparent. By way of example, an effective amount of theDDM-HCA-containing composition of the invention sufficient for achievinga therapeutic or prophylactic effect will typically range from about0.000001 mg/Kg body weight/day to about 10,000 mg/Kg body weight/day.Preferably, the dosage ranges are from about 0.0001 mg/Kg bodyweight/day to about 100 mg/Kg body weight/day. The DDM-HCA compositionsof the invention can also be administered in combinations of HCA speciesalone, or with one or more additional therapeutic compounds, alsoreferred to as “second agents”.

II. General

It is to be appreciated that certain aspects, modes, embodiments,variations and features of the invention are described below in variouslevels of detail in order to provide a substantial understanding of thepresent invention. In general, such disclosure provides beneficialHCA-containing compositions, combinations of such compositions withother dietary supplement compositions, and related methods of producingand using same.

It is an object of the present invention to provide dimeric double metalsalts of group IA and IIA of HCA. DDM-HCAs of the invention are solubleHCA-containing compositions useful as oral dietary supplements. TheDDM-HCAs of the invention are suitable for manipulations under thoseconditions necessary for tabletting, encapsulation, and the productionof controlled-release vehicles that can be incorporated into drypowders. It is also an object of the invention to provide methods tomake DDM-HCAs of the invention. The methods of the invention are usefulto alter the polar/ionic qualities of HCA salts and derivatives whenpresented to the intestinal lumen to provide advantages in absorptionwhen administered to a subject. It is an object of the present inventionto provide DDM-HCAs useful in prophylactic and therapeutic applicationsin a variety of disorders, diseases and conditions in a subjectincluding merely by way of example, obesity, overweight, hunger,deficiencies in fat metabolism, hyperlipemia, and postprandial lipemia.

III. DDM-HCAs of the Invention

The invention provides new DDM-HCAs of the three (3) general formulasper Table 1, and as described above. In one embodiment, the DDM-HCA ofthe invention is an isolated DDM-HCA of a general Formula of Formula I,Formula II, or Formula III, as described above. In one embodiment, theDDM-HCA of the invention is a mixture of two or more DDM-HCAs of thegeneral formulas selected from the group consisting of: Formula 1;Formula II; or Formula III, as detailed above. The invention providesthat the DDM-HCA may include any combination of dimeric species as wellas group IA metals and group IIA metals. In one embodiment, the relativemolar ratio of IIA group metal to IA group metal is from at least about1.0:4.0 to at least about 1.0:4.5. In one embodiment, the DDM-HCA is anHCA-containing composition wherein the group IIA metal is magnesiummetal, the group IA metal is potassium metal and the relative molarratio of magnesium metal to potassium metal is from at least about 1:3.5to at least about 1:4.5. The DDM-HCAs of general Formula I, Formula IIand Formula III, as described above, may be present in the compositionsof the invention in any relative molar ratio or combination.

IV. Preparing DDM-HCAs of the Invention

The invention provides process for preparing DDM-HCAs of Formulas I, II,and III, as shown in Table 1 and described above, is schematicallyrepresented in FIG. 1. The DDM-HCAs are prepared from a concentratedaqueous extract of the fruit (or rind) of a plant of the genus Garciniathat contains (−)-hydroxycitrate as the free acid as well as the HCAlactone, i.e., an HCA/lactone concentrate mixture. The dried fruit of aplant of the genus Garcinia or the rinds of the fruit are a rich sourceof HCA and, therefore, useful in the preparation of the HCA/lactoneconcentrate mixture. In some embodiments, dried fruit or dried fruitrind(s) of Garcinia cambogia are extracted to derived the HCA/lactoneconcentrate mixture. In one embodiment, the HCA is extracted from driedGarcinia fruit/rind in multiple cycles with DM water in an extractor.For example, an extraction cycle can include the extraction of Garciniafruit/rind for at least about six (6) hours to yield a first Garciniaextract and a once-extracted Garcinia fruit/rind. The once-extractedGarcinia fruit/rind is isolated from the Garcinia extract and thenre-extracted with fresh DM water in another extraction cycle. In oneembodiment, the dried Garcinia fruit/rind is subjected to four (4)extraction cycles. Following each extraction cycle, the Garcinia extractis filtered. In one embodiment, the Garcinia extract is filtered using asparkler filter; such filters useful in the methods of the invention areof sizes 14-10 (Amar Equipments Pvt. Ltd., Kurla (W), Mumbai, India;).Filtered Garcinia extracts from multiple extraction cycles are typicallypooled at the end of the HCA extraction process and homogenized prior tofurther purification. In one embodiment of the invention, a mixing tankhaving a vertically mounted agitator is employed in the homogenizationstep. In one embodiment, the filtered and homogenized Garcinia extractmixture has from about 5% to about 8% total dissolved solids.

After aqueous HCA extraction, the HCA is purified using ion exchangechromatography and concentrated as generally described by Moffett et al.(U.S. Pat. No. 5,536,516, issued Jul. 16, 1996). In one embodiment, thefiltered and homogenized Garcinia extract mixture is loaded onto ananion exchange column for adsorption of the HCA onto an anion exchangeresin, washing the column with DM water to remove unbound components,and then eluting the HCA free acid from the anion exchange column with5% (w/w) NaOH solution to yield an anion exchange-purified sodium HCAsalt solution. The skilled artisan will recognize that there are manyanion exchange resins useful in the method of the present invention,including, by way of illustrative examples, anion A.36 gel exchangeresin and Indion 850 anion exchange resin, commercially available fromThermax, Ltd, India and Ion Exchange India Ltd., India, respectively.The sodium HCA salt solution is then rendered as the HCA free acid bycation exchange chromatography. In one embodiment, the sodium HCA saltsolution is rendered as the HCA free acid by loading it onto a cationexchange column that has been activated with 30% (w/w) HCl. The HCA freeacid is collected in the eluant from pH 2.5 to 1.2 and from 1.2 to 2.5.The HCA free acid-containing solution is then bleached (i.e.,decolorized) by mixing it with activated charcoal for 1 hour at 80° C.to yield a bleached HCA solution. The bleached solution is allowed tocool to room temperature, filtered, and then loaded onto a cationexchange column to reduce the cation concentration (e.g., Naconcentration) to yield an HCA concentrate with at least about 1.0%weight HCA concentration.

The skilled artisan will recognize that there are many commerciallyavailable cation exchange resins useful in the method of the presentinvention including, e.g., Indion 225 H cation exchange resin (ionExchange India Ltd., India). The HCA solution is passed through an anionexchange column to reduce the chloride content below 1.0% of the weightof the HCA concentration. In one embodiment, the HCA concentrate has atleast about 2.0% weight HCA concentration. While any anion exchangeresin, e.g., anion A.36 gel exchange resin (Thermax Ltd., India),suitable to reduce the chloride content of the HCA solution to at leastabout 1% weight of the HCA concentration are useful in the method of theinvention. The HCA concentrate undergoes an aging process as the HCAfree acid will lactonize to an equilibrium that is dependent on the pHand concentration. In one embodiment, the HCA concentrate lactonizes toyield the liquid HCA/lactone concentrate mixture wherein the HCA lactoneis present at a concentration of least about 20% weight percent of thetotal weight of the liquid HCA/lactone concentrate mixture.

As detailed in FIG. 1, the HCA/lactone concentrate mixture is partiallyneutralized, 2 molar equivalents of the liquid HCA/lactone concentratemixture with 4 molar equivalents of a group IA metal hydroxide. Thegroup IA metal hydroxide solution is slowly added with mixing to theliquid HCA/lactone concentrate mixture under conditions wherein thereaction temperature is maintained from at least about 27° C. to atleast about 33° C. to yield a partially neutralized liquid HCA/lactoneconcentrate mixture. Group IA metal hydroxides useful in the preparationof DDM-HCA include, merely by way of example, LiOH; NaOH; KOH; RbOH;CsOH; and FrOH. In one embodiment, the HCA/lactone concentrate mixtureis maintained at least about 30° C. to yield a partially neutralizedliquid HCA/lactone concentrate mixture.

After partial neutralization with group IA metal hydroxide, theneutralized liquid HCA/lactone concentrate mixture slowly reacted withmixing with one (1) molar equivalent of a IIA metal hydroxide to yield afully neutralized liquid HCA/lactone concentrate mixture. Group IIAmetal hydroxides useful in the preparation of DDM-HCA include, e.g.,Be(OH)₂; Mg(OH) ₂; Ca(OH) ₂; Sr(OH) ₂; Ba(OH) ₂; and Ra(OH) ₂. The fullyneutralized liquid HCA/lactone concentrate mixture is then heated to atleast about 60° C. until the pH of the mixture is stable to yield astabilized DDM-HCA-containing mixture. In one embodiment, the pH of theHCA/lactone concentrate mixture is stabilized to a pH range betweenabout 8.8 and about 9.2. The DDM-HCAs are then isolated from thestabilized DDM-HCA-containing mixture by any suitable separation orprocessing technique. In one embodiment, the DDM-HCA are isolated fromthe stabilized DDM-HCA-containing solution by concentrating thestabilized DDM-HCA-containing solution to at least about 25% weighttotal solids to yield a concentrated DDM-HCA-containing solution. Theconcentrated DDM-HCA-containing solution is filtered and theDDM-HCA-containing filtrate is dried. In one embodiment,DDM-HCA-containing is dried using spray drying technique.

V. Limitations of Monomeric HCA and HCA Salts

Early work ascribed the weight loss benefit to HCA, its salts and itslactone form; see, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,764,692 of Lowenstein.One commonly offered explanation for the biological and therapeuticeffects of HCA is the inhibition of cytoplasmic ATP-citrate lyase (D.Clouatre and M. E. Rosenbaum, The Diet and Health Benefits of HCA(Hydroxycitric Acid), 1994). The use of free HCA concentrate in foodproducts has been described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,536,516 of Moffett,issued Jul. 16, 1996, but it does not teach any particular advantage forthe use of HCA in weight loss or for other medicinal purposes. Evenbrief exposure of the potassium and sodium salts of HCA to acidicconditions or flavored beverages results in chemical changes in theseHCA salts. In some cases the beverages actually change color uponaddition of potassium HCA or sodium HCA salts.

Free HCA is extremely ionic and does not pass readily through themembrane lining the gut. The free acid form of HCA can be sequestered bybinding to soluble and insoluble fibers as well as by many othercompounds, thus rendering HCA biologically unavailable. Generally,calcium HCA and magnesium HCA salts, either alone or in the form ofvarious mixtures together, or in combination with the potassium HCA andsodium HCA salts, are not biologically effective delivery forms for HCA.Calcium HCA and magnesium HCA salts are also not readily absorbed acrossthe gastrointestinal tract because they are poorly soluble in aqueousmedia. These HCA salts are also reactive with bile acids and fats in thegut and/or are sequestered by binding to soluble and insoluble fibers orother substances in the diet, and are secreted during digestion(Heymsfield, Steven B, et al. JAMA 1998; 280(18): 1596-1600; Letters,JAMA 1999; 282: 235). For example, the action of stomach acid may freeone of the two valences of calcium HCA or magnesium HCA salts forattachment to, e.g., fats, bile acids, gums, fibers, pectins, which isundesirable for biological availability. The addition of a small amountof magnesium HCA to potassium HCA, however, improves the transit ofpotassium HCA across cell membranes. By contrast, calcium, impedes thetransit of potassium HCA across cell membranes.

Calcium/potassium HCA (Super CitriMax®) is not well absorbed, asdemonstrated by the observation that only 20% of the total dose ingestedby fasted subjects was detected (by gas chromatography/massspectroscopy) in the blood (Loe et al., Anal. Biochem., 2001, 292(1):148-54). Loe also reported that the absorption of calcium/potassium HCA(Super CitriMax®) peaked 2 hours after administration, and that thecompound remained in the blood for more than 9 hours after ingestion(Loe et al., FASEB Journal, 15 4:632, Abs. 501.1, 2001). Eating a mealshortly after taking Super CitriMax® reduced its absorption by about60%. Moreover, animal trials (see U.S. Pat. No. 6,476,071 of Clouatre,issued Nov. 5, 2002) have further demonstrated that in order for thepotassium salt to be maximally effective, the ligand must be fully boundto the HCA with only trivial amounts of contaminants, including otherminerals or fibers or sugars.

Calcium HCA salt has some further disadvantages that may limit itstherapeutic use. Calcium uptake from the gut is highly regulated andunder normal circumstances does not exceed approximately 35% of thetotal amount present in foods and supplements. The uptake of calciumdeclines as the dosage of calcium is increased. This may limit the useof calcium HCA where large doses may need to be ingested. For example,for weight loss and other purposes, a minimally effective amount of HCAderived from its calcium salt requires the administration of between 12and 15 grams of a 50% (−)-HCA material. This amount of calcium HCA maylead to undesirably elevated levels of binding and excretion of otherdietary minerals, such as zinc, aside from presenting difficulties inadministration.

HCA sodium salt has disadvantages for long-term administration to asubject. First, sodium HCA lacks positive metabolic effects with regardto obesity. Second, sodium HCA has potential hypertensive actions.Indeed, several of the “potassium” salts in the early commercialproducts from India were, in fact, mixtures of calcium, potassium andsodium HCA. The amount of sodium in these HCA preparations exceeded thatallowed in low sodium diets notwithstanding the fact that any additionalsodium is ill-advised in any modern diet. In contrast, potassium HCAdoes not possess the disadvantages associated with sodium HCA.

A preferred salt of HCA for pharmaceutical use is potassium HCA. Themineral potassium is fully soluble, as is its HCA salt, and is known topossess cell membrane permeability which is 100 times greater than thatpossessed by sodium. However, the potassium salt of HCA, as is also trueof the sodium salt, is extremely hygroscopic and thus is not suitableunder normal circumstances for the production of dry delivery forms. Indrawing moisture to itself, potassium HCA will also tend to bind toavailable binding sites of compounds in its immediate environment, andthis action often later will markedly impede the assimilation ofpotassium HCA from the gut.

Several international patent applications and U.S. Patents discloseHCA-containing compositions and their delivery as calcium, magnesium,and potassium, and admixtures of salts. International patent applicationWO 99/03464, filed 28 Jan. 1999, is directed to HCA-containingcompositions with 14 to 26 wt % calcium HCA, and approximately 24 to 40wt % potassium HCA or approximately 14 to 24 wt % sodium HCA, or amixture thereof, each calculated as a percentage of the total HCAcontent of the composition for use in dietary supplements and foodproducts. Studies assessing such a composition showed that itsassimilation is very poor even when taken on an empty stomach (Loe etal., Anal Biochem. May 1, 2001; 292(1): 148-54), and that eating a mealshortly after taking it reduced its absorption by about 60% (Loe et al.,Time Course of Hydroxycitrate Clearance in Fasting and Fed Humans, FASEBJournal, 15, 4: 632, Abs. 501.1, 2001). Further, studies comparing theeffect of various HCA-containing compositions on body weight and foodintake in a rat obesity model showed that a test composition ofcalcium/potassium HCA salt identical to that described by WO 99/03464was inferior compared to potassium HCA salt in its ability to reduceweight gain in middle-aged rats fed a 30% fat diet (see U.S. Pat. No.6,476,071 of Clouatre). Specifically, at the level of intake usedexperimentally on a 30% fat diet, potassium HCA increased protein as apercentage of body weight while reducing fat as a percentage of bodyweight. In contrast, the calcium/potassium salt HCA test compositionincreased fat and reduced protein as percentages of body weight.

International patent application WO 00/15051 is directed to a method ofmaking calcium HCA more soluble by under-reacting the material, i.e.,leaving a substantial amount of HCA lactone in the finished product.Making calcium soluble, again, does nothing to prevent its reactivitywith compounds in the gut, e.g., bile salts, or to improve the generalrate of assimilation of calcium HCA.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,221,901 of Shrivastava, issued Apr. 24, 2001, isdirected to the preparation and uses of magnesium HCA. The high dosageof magnesium HCA required to achieve the indicated results, however, maylimit the therapeutic utility of the composition. For example, in orderto achieve a hypotensive effect, for instance, the inventors fed theiranimals 500 mg/kg magnesium HCA. Using the standard 5:1 multiplier forrat to human data, the dose of magnesium hydroxycitrate employed byShrivastava is equivalent to a human ingesting 100 mg/kg/day or 7 gramsfor the average-sized human subject. Of this amount, 15% would beelemental magnesium; hence we have the equivalent of a human ingestingapproximately 1 gram of magnesium. The Recommended Dietary Allowances,10th edition (National Research Council, 1989), indicates that mosthumans begin to suffer diarrhea at more than 350 mg/day. In other words,the test dose used by Shrivastava is 3 times the dose at which sideeffects would normally be expected to begin to appear, and as a furthercomplication, the induced diarrhea itself would lower blood pressurerapidly.

VI. The Chemical and Pharmacokinetic Characteristics of DDM-HCAs of theInvention are Different than those of Monomeric HCAs

DDM-HCA was characterized for select physicochemical properties using anexemplary HCA monomer preparation and DDM-HCA preparation eachcontaining potassium IA group metal and magnesium IIA group metal andprepared as detailed in Example 1, infra. The predicted general FormulaIV of the HCA monomer preparation (termed, “K/Mg-HCA monomer”) is shownbelow:

This structure is like the soluble double metal HCA salts disclosed byBalasubramanyam et al., (U.S. Pat. No. 6,160,172, issued Dec. 12, 2000;U.S. Pat. No. 6,395,296, issued May 28, 2002). The above structured HCAspecies was used in a kinetic study, comparing it to the dimer, andfound to be less-absorbed.

The exemplary DDM-HCA (termed, “K/Mg-DDM-HCA”) was a mixture of one ormore of the DDM-HCAs of general Formulas V, VII, and VII shown below:

The three carboxylic acid groups of HCA differ in acidity. As such, thethree carboxylic acid groups differ in their reactivity with group IAand group IIA metal hydroxides. In this regards, it is known that theprimary carboxylic acid group (top) of HCA is the most reactive and thetertiary carboxylic acid group (bottom) is the least reactive. Thesecondary carboxylic acid group of HCA (middle) is less than the primarycarboxylic group of HCA but more reactive than the tertiary carboxylicacid group of HCA. As only two molar equivalent of group 1A metalhydroxide, e.g., KOH, is added to partially neutralize the concentratedHCA/lactone mixture, only two carboxylic acid groups, it is predictedthat the top two carboxylic acid groups react with the group IA metalhydroxide (see FIG. 1). The acidity difference between the secondary HCAcarboxylic acid and the tertiary HCA carboxylic acid is small,therefore, it is predicted that the group IA metal hydroxide, e.g., KOH,may also react with the tertiary HCA carboxylic acid group in case offree acid only, but not the lactone.

The invention provides methods to prepare DDM-HCAs of reproduciblechemical composition as judged by the relative molar ratio of IA groupmetal to HCA to IIA group metal. For example, as summarized in Table 2,the process for making the DDM-HCAs of the invention yieldedK/Mg-DDM-HCA preparations with reproducible relative molar ratios of IIAgroup metal, HCA, and IA group metal. As shown in Table 2, there waslittle variation in the relative molar ratios of magnesium to HCA topotassium among the K/Mg-DDM-HCA preparation 1, preparation 2 andpreparation 3.

TABLE 2 HCA Preparations and Relative Mg and K Molar Ratios CompositionRelative Molar Ratio HCA Preparation Magnesium HCA Potassium PredictedK/Mg-DDM-HCA 1 2 4 K/Mg-DDM-HCA Prep 1 1.02 2.03 4 K/Mg-DDM-HCA Prep 21.02 2.02 4 K/Mg-DDM-HCA Prep 3 1.01 2.02 4 Predicted K/Mg HCA Monomer 11 1 K/Mg-HCA monomer 0.98 1 1

The invention provides methods to prepare DDM-HCAs which are distinctfrom monomeric HCA preparation. As shown in Table 2, the observedstoichiometry of the group IIA metal, the HCA and group IA metal inK/Mg-DDM-HCA preparations 1-3, was consistent with the predictedstoichiometry, i.e., 1:2:4, DDM-HCAs of Formula V, Formula VI andFormula VII (detailed above, in Table 1). In contrast, the observedstoichiometry of the group IIA metal, HCA and group IA metal inK/Mg-DDM-HCA preparations 1-3, was different than the predictedstoichiometry, i.e., 1:1:1, of K/Mg HCA monomer. Indeed, K/Mg-HCAmonomer had a stoichiometry consistent with the monomeric structure ofFormula IV as recently described by Balasubramanyam et al., (U.S. Pat.No. 6,160,172, issued Dec. 12, 2000; U.S. Pat. No. 6,395,296, issued May28, 2002).

The molecular weight of the DDM-HCAs of the present invention isconsistent with the dimeric structure and general Formulas I-III. Forexample, the molecular weight of the K/Mg-DDM-HCA prepared as describedin Example 1 was experimentally determined (Dhanvantari Botanicals Pvt.Ltd Bangalore, India; lot No. L 2407067). Briefly, the percentage ofgroup I A and II A metals were estimated by flame photometry and HCA wasestimated by HPLC. The molecular weight of the DDM-HCA was calculatedfrom atomic mass of the DDM-HCA constituents, their stoichiometry andthe experimentally estimated percentages. Indeed, the observed molecularweight of the K/Mg-DDM-HCA (MW=594.1 g/mol) was consistent with thepredicted molecular weight (MW=590.7 g/mol) for dimeric double metalsalts of HCA having in the general Formulas V-VII as these values fellwithin the experimental error of the molecular weight determinationtechnique. The observed molecular weight of the K/Mg-DDM-HCA prepared bythe process of the invention was different than the predicted molecularweight of K/Mg-HCA monomer of general Formula IV (Mw=268.3 g/mol) asrecently described by Balasubramanyam et al., in U.S. Pat. No. 6,395,296issued on May 28, 2002.

The invention provides methods to prepare DDM-HCAs which arephysicochemically distinct from monomeric HCA preparation. The meltingpoint is the temperature at which the crystal structure of a solidbreaks down with increasing entropy (degree of disorder). For example,the melting point of the K/Mg-DDM-HCA and K/Mg-HCA monomer prepared asdescribed in Example 1 was experimentally determined (DhanvantariBotanicals Lab, India) using a melting point apparatus, manufactured byScientific Engineering Corp., Delhi, India. As summarized in Table 3,the process for making the DDM-HCAs of the invention yieldedK/Mg-DDM-HCA preparations with a melting point (202° C.) lower than themelting point of the K/Mg-HCA monomer (>350° C.). This observation isconsistent with the K/Mg-DDM-HCA preparation and K/Mg-HCA monomer havingdistinct crystalline structural characteristics.

TABLE 3 HCA Preparations and Chemical Properties Properties AlcoholSolubility Melting (50% v/v alcohol; Aqueous HCA Preparation Point 1% wttest) Solubility K/Mg-DDM-HCA   202° C. 90% 1000 g/liter K/Mg-HCAmonomer >350° C. 40%  250 g/liter

As noted above, the limitations of HCA and HCA salts with regard tosolubility have been addressed by the present invention. The process formaking the DDM-HCAs of the invention yielded K/Mg-DDM-HCA preparationwith solubility properties different from K/Mg-DDM-HCA preparation. Assummarized in Table 3, the solubility of the K/Mg-DDM-HCA of theinvention (90%) was more than 2-fold greater than the solubility ofK/Mg-HCA monomer (40% w/w) when tested at 1% weight in 50% (v/v) ethanolsolution. Also, the aqueous solubility of the K/Mg-DDM-HCA of theinvention (1000 g/liter) was at least about 4-fold greater than theaqueous solubility of the K/Mg-HCA monomer (250 g/liter).

VII. DDM-HCA-Containing Formulations

The DDM-HCAs of the invention are suitable for manipulations under thoseconditions necessary for tabletting, encapsulation, and the productionof controlled-release vehicles that can be incorporated into drypowders. The present invention provides for the use of DDM-HCA of theinvention to modulate, e.g., increase or decrease, the delivery of saltsand derivatives of HCA. In one embodiment, at least one DDM-HCA is mixedwith one or more HCA monomers at a concentration sufficient to modulate,i.e., increase or decrease, the rate of delivery of salts andderivatives of HCA to a subject, compared to the rate of delivery ofsalts and derivatives of HCA observed in the absence of the DDM-HCA ofthe invention. The rate of the delivery of salts and derivatives of HCAcan be determined as the rate of appearance of HCA ion the serum of asubject. (See Determination of the Pharmacokinetics or Biological Effectof the HCA-containing compositions, infra). The HCA monomer can include,but is not limited to, e.g., HCA free acid, HCA salts, HCA derivatives,or any combination thereof.

As noted above, the potassium salt of HCA may be more efficacious thanthe sodium salt of HCA for use as an agent for human weight loss, andfor other pharmaceutical and/or nutraceutical purposes. The potassiumand the sodium salts of HCA, however, present very similar difficultiesin handling and manipulation. Potassium HCA is extremely hygroscopic andbinds atmospheric water to form a non-palatable paste, which is notsuitable for use in tablets, capsules, or powders. This material can beadmixed with orange juice or water, but it still requires vacuum pouchsealing under a humidity-controlled atmosphere, and, as such, isinconvenient patient use. Potassium HCA is also reactive with a largenumber of compounds (tannins, gums, fibers, pectins, etc.) and therebyreadily suffers large losses in pharmacological availability.

In some embodiments of the invention, the aforementionedDDM-HCA-containing compositions have a chloride content, measured ashalogen content, of less than about 2.9% by weight. In otherembodiments, the DDM-HCA-containing compositions have a chloridecontent, as measured by ion chromatography, of less than about 2.5%weight. In other particular embodiments, the DDM-HCA-containingcompositions have a chloride content of less than about 1.0% weight, andin still more particular embodiments, the DDM-HCA-containingcompositions have a chloride content of less than about 0.6% weight, asmeasured by ion chromatography.

In one embodiment, the DDM-HCAs of the invention are included in a drydelivery system, e.g., tablet, dry powder, and dry meal replacementmixture. In another embodiment, the DDM-HCAs of the invention areincluded in a liquid delivery system, e.g., capsule, caplet, orbeverage. In yet another embodiment, the DDM-HCAs of the invention areused in controlled-release vehicles, e.g., tablet, caplet, and capsules.

DDM-HCA compositions of the invention are useful as a granulate whichcan be used alone or further formulated with pharmaceutically acceptablecompounds, excipients, vehicles, or adjuvants with a favorable deliveryprofile, i.e., suitable for delivery to a subject. Such compositionstypically comprise the DDM-HCA composition of the invention and apharmaceutically acceptable carrier. As used herein, “pharmaceuticallyacceptable carrier” is intended to include any and all solvents,dispersion media, coatings, antibacterial and antifungal compounds,isotonic and absorption delaying compounds, and the like, compatiblewith pharmaceutical administration. Suitable carriers are described inthe most recent edition of Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences, astandard reference text in the field, which is incorporated herein byreference. Preferred examples of such carriers or diluents include, butare not limited to, water, saline, Ringer's solutions, dextrosesolution, and 5% human serum albumin. The use of such media andcompounds for pharmaceutically active substances is well known in theart. Except insofar as any conventional media or compound isincompatible with the active compound, use thereof in the compositionsis contemplated. Supplementary active compounds can also be incorporatedinto the compositions.

A pharmaceutical composition of the invention is formulated to becompatible with its intended route of administration. Examples of routesof administration include parenteral, e.g., intravenous, intradermal,subcutaneous, oral (e.g., inhalation), transdermal (i.e., topical),transmucosal, and rectal administration. The pH can be adjusted withacids or bases, such as hydrochloric acid or sodium hydroxide.

Oral compositions generally include an inert diluent or an ediblecarrier. They can be enclosed in gelatin capsules, caplets or compressedinto tablets. For the purpose of oral therapeutic administration, theDDM-HCA composition of the invention can be incorporated with excipientsand used in the form of tablets, troches, or capsules. Oral compositionscan also be prepared using a fluid carrier for use as a mouthwash,wherein the compound in the fluid carrier is applied orally and swishedand expectorated or swallowed. Pharmaceutically compatible bindingcompounds, and/or adjuvant materials can be included as part of thecomposition. The tablets, pills, capsules, troches and the like cancontain any of the following ingredients, or compounds of a similarnature: a binder such as microcrystalline cellulose, gum tragacanth orgelatin; an excipient such as starch or lactose, a disintegratingcompound such as alginic acid, Primogel, or corn starch; a lubricantsuch as magnesium stearate or Sterotes; a glidant such as colloidalsilicon dioxide; a sweetening compound such as sucrose or saccharin; ora flavoring compound such as peppermint, methyl salicylate, or orangeflavoring.

The DDM-HCA composition of the invention can also be prepared aspharmaceutical compositions in the form of suppositories (e.g., withconventional suppository bases such as cocoa butter and otherglycerides) or retention enemas for rectal delivery.

The various pharmaceutical compositions described above can be includedin a container, pack, or dispenser, each together with instructions foradministration.

As noted above, it is advantageous to formulate the DDM-HCA-containingcompositions of the invention in dosage unit form for ease ofadministration and uniformity of dosage. The specification for thedosage unit forms of the invention are dictated by and directlydependent on the unique characteristics of the DDM-HCA composition andthe particular therapeutic effect to be achieved, and the limitationsinherent in the art of compounding such an active compound for thetreatment of individuals.

VIII. Uses of the DDM-HCAs of the Invention A. Prophylactic andTherapeutic Uses of the DDM-HCAs

The DDM-HCAs of the present invention are useful in prophylactic andtherapeutic applications in a variety of disorders, diseases andconditions in a subject including, but not limited to, e.g., obesity,overweight, hunger, deficiencies in fat metabolism, hyperlipemia, andpostprandial lipemia (i.e., the level of lipids in the blood following ameal). By way of non-limiting example, the compositions of the inventionwill have efficacy for treatment of subjects suffering from thementioned disorders mentioned in the section on Indicated Diseases andDisorders, infra.

B. Determination of the Pharmacokinetics or Biological Effect of theHCA-Containing Compositions

The pharmacokinetics of DDM-HCA compositions, including absorption, canbe determined by measuring the HCA level in the blood of subjectsadministered an DDM-HCA composition using gas chromatography/massspectroscopy (Loe et al., Anal Biochem. 2001, 1;292(1):148-54) and asfurther detailed by Loe et al., (FASEB Journal, 2001,15 4:632, Abs.501.1). The assessment and comparison of the pharmacokinetics of testcompounds is well known in the art.

The effect of DDM-HCA compositions on the activity of ATP-citrate lyasecan be measured using the ATP-citrate lyase assay procedure as detailedby Houston and Nimmo (Biochim Biophys Acta Feb. 21, 1985; 844(2):233-9). A reduction in ATP-citrate lyase activity in the presence ofDDM-HCA composition when compared to the level of ATP-citrate lyaseactivity observed in the absence of DDM-HCA composition indicates thatthe DDM-HCA composition inhibits ATP-citrate lyase enzyme.

In various embodiments of the invention, suitable in vitro or in vivoassays are performed to determine the effect of a specific HCA-basedtherapeutic and whether its administration is indicated for treatment ofthe affected tissue in a subject.

In various specific embodiments, in vitro assays can be performed withrepresentative cells of the type(s) involved in the patient's disorder,to determine if a given HCA-based therapeutic exerts the desired effectupon the cell type(s). Compounds for use in therapy can be tested insuitable animal model systems including, but not limited to rats, mice,chicken, cows, monkeys, rabbits, and the like, prior to testing in humansubjects. Similarly, for in vivo testing, any of the animal model systemknown in the art can be used prior to administration to human subjects.

C. Indicated Diseases, Disorders, and Conditions

The invention provides for both prophylactic and therapeutic methods oftreating a subject at risk of (or susceptible to) a disease or having adisorder associated with lipid metabolism, e.g., but not limited to,obesity, overweight, deficiencies in lipid metabolism, hyperlipemia,postprandial lipemia, disorders where inhibition of inhibit cytoplasmiccitrate lyase is advantageous, or physical conditions such as hunger.

The DDM-HCA compositions of the present invention are useful prevent ortreat diseases, disorders or conditions where inhibition of inhibitionof ATP-citrate lyase is advantageous, e.g., reduction of cholesterollevel. Berkhout et al., (Biochem J. Nov. 15, 1990; 272(1): 181-6)studied the effect of HCA on the activity of the low-density lipoproteinreceptor and 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase levels in thehuman hepatoma cell line Hep G2. After 2.5 h and 18 h incubations withHCA at concentrations of 0.5 mM or higher, incorporation of[1,5-14C]citrate into fatty acids and cholesterol was stronglyinhibited. It was concluded that this decrease reflected an effectiveinhibition of ATP citrate-lyase. Cholesterol biosynthesis was decreasedto 27% of the control value as measured by incorporation of tritium fromtritiated water, indicating a decreased flux of carbon units through thecholesterol-synthetic pathway. The DDM-HCA compositions of the inventionare useful, therefore, to prevent or treat diseases, disorders orconditions where inhibition of inhibition of ATP-citrate lyase isadvantageous, e.g., reduction of cholesterol level.

The DDM-HCA compositions of the present invention are useful to preventor treat diseases or disorders associated with lipid metabolism, e.g.,but not limited to, obesity; overweight; hyperlipemia; postprandiallipemia; and deficiencies in lipid metabolism, e.g., insulin resistance.Ishihara et al., (J Nutr. December 2000; 130(12): 2990-5) studied theeffect of chronic HCA administration on both carbohydrate utilizationand lipid oxidation. The respiratory exchange ratio of test subjects wassignificantly lower in the HCA group during both resting and exercisingconditions. These results suggest that chronic administration of HCApromotes lipid oxidation and spares carbohydrate utilization in testsubjects at rest and during running. The DDM-HCA compositions of thepresent invention are useful, therefore, to prevent or treat diseases ordisorders associated with lipid metabolism, e.g., but not limited to,obesity; overweight; hyperlipemia; postprandial lipemia; anddeficiencies in lipid metabolism, e.g., insulin resistance.

Under conditions that elevate de novo lipogenesis in humans, HCA reducedfat synthesis and increased energy expenditure (Kovacs andWesterp-Plantenga, Society for the Study of Ingestive Behavior, AnnualMeeting, 2001, Abstr. pg. 27). The DDM-HCA compositions of the presentinvention are useful, therefore, to prevent or treat diseases ordisorders associated with lipid metabolism.

The DDM-HCA compositions of the present invention are useful to preventor treat hunger and to promote satiety in a subject. The administrationof HCA to subjects has been reported to promote appetite suppression andsatiety (Westerterp-Plantenga and Kovacs, Int. J. Obes. Relat. Metab.Disord., 2002, 26(6): 870-2). The DDM-HCA compositions of the presentinvention are useful, therefore, to prevent or treat hunger and topromote satiety in a subject. The disclosures of these referencesprovided in this list immediately above are herein incorporated in theirentirety by reference thereto

EXAMPLES OF PREPARATION AND TESTING EXAMPLE 1 Preparation ofK/Mg-DDM-HCA and K/Mg-HCA Monomer A. Preparation of K/Mg-DDM-HCA

K/Mg-DDM-HCA was prepared as a mixture of DDM-HCAs of general Formula IFormula II; and Formula III, as depicted in Table 1 and described above.These structures are further detailed as K/Mg-DDM-HCAs of generalFormulas V-VII, supra.

The K/Mg-DDM-HCA was prepared from a concentrated aqueous extract of therind of the fruit of a plant of the genus Garcinia (i.e., Garcinia rind)that contains (−)-hydroxycitrate as the free acid as well as HCAlactone, i.e., HCA/lactone concentrate mixture. Specifically, the HCAwas extracted from dried Garcinia rind in multiple cycles with DM waterin an extractor (HR Engineering, Bangalore, India). Specifically, 600kilograms of dried Garcinia rind was extracted in an extractor with 1200liters of distilled water. The Garcinia rind was extracted for six (6)hours to yield a first Garcinia extract and a once-extracted Garciniarind. The once-extracted Garcinia rind was isolated from the Garciniaextract and then re-extracted with three more extraction cycles withfresh DM water as detailed above. Following each extraction cycle, theGarcinia extract was filtered using a sparkler filter (Amar EquipmentsPvt. Ltd., Kurla (W), Mumbai, India; Size—14-10). Filtered Garciniaextracts from multiple extraction cycles were pooled at the end of theHCA extraction process and homogenized prior to further purification inan 8,000 liter mixing tank with a vertical agitator.

After aqueous HCA extraction, the HCA was purified using ion exchangechromatography technique and concentrated as generally described byMoffett et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 5,536,516, issued Jul. 16, 1996). Briefly,a volume of filtered and homogenized Garcinia extract mixture with 5% to8% total dissolved solids, containing equivalent to 150 kg of HCA wasloaded at room temperature (i.e., 25-35° C.) onto an anion exchangecolumn containing 1200 liters Indion 850 anion exchange resin (ionExchange India Ltd., India) at a flow of 3000 liters/hr for adsorptionof the HCA onto an anion exchange column. Washing the column with DMwater to remove unbound components and then the (−)-hydroxycitric acidis eluted from the anion exchange column with 5% w/w NaOH solution toyield an anion exchange purified sodium HCA salt solution. The sodiumHCA salt solution was then rendered as the HCA free acid by cationexchange chromatography. Briefly, the sodium HCA salt was rendered asthe HCA free acid by loading it at room temperature (i.e., 25-35° C.)onto a cation exchange column containing 1600 liters of Indion 225 Hresin (ion Exchange India Ltd., India) at a flow of 3000 liters/hr thatwas activated with 30% (w/w) HCl. The pH of the eluant generally staysat pH 2.5 and goes down to pH 1.2 as the concentration of HCA increased.It remained stable for a while and once the HCA concentration startedreducing, the pH went back up from pH 1.2 to pH 2.5. As such, the HCAfree acid was collected in the eluant from pH 2.5 to 1.2 and from 1.2 to2.5. The HCA free acid-containing solution was then bleached (i.e.,decolorized) by mixing it with activated charcoal (2.0% (w/v) activatedcharcoal; 60 kg total) for 1 h at 80° C. to yield a bleached HCAsolution. The bleached solution was allowed to cool to room temperature,filtered and then loaded onto a cation exchange column with 1000 litersof Indion 225H resin at a flow rate of 3000 liter/hr, to reduce thecation concentration, e.g., Na, to yield an HCA concentrate with atleast about 2.0% weight HCA concentration. The HCA solution was passedthrough an anion exchange column containing 60 liters of anion A.36 gelexchange resin (Thermax, Ltd., India) at a flow rate of 1600 liters/hrto reduce the chloride content below 1.0% of the HCA concentration. TheHCA concentrate undergoes an aging process as the HCA free acid willlactonize to an equilibrium which was dependent upon the pH andconcentration. The HCA concentrate lactonized to yield the liquidHCA/lactone concentrate mixture wherein the HCA lactone was present at aconcentration of least about 25% weight percent of the total weight ofthe liquid HCA/lactone concentrate mixture.

A volume of the 2% weight HCA/lactone concentrate mixture equal to 50 kgequivalents of HCA was partially neutralized (2 molar equivalents of theliquid HCA/lactone concentrate mixture) with 4 molar equivalents of apotassium hydroxide solution at 30% weight concentration. The potassiumhydroxide solution was slowly added with mixing to the liquidHCA/lactone concentrate mixture under conditions wherein the reactiontemperature was maintained at least about 30° C. to yield a partiallyneutralized liquid HCA/lactone concentrate mixture.

After partial neutralization with potassium hydroxide, the partiallyneutralized liquid HCA/lactone concentrate mixture was slowly reacted(with mixing) with one (1) molar equivalent of magnesium hydroxide as a10% (w/v) solution of the group IIA metal hydroxide to yield a fullyneutralized liquid HCA/lactone concentrate mixture. The fullyneutralized liquid HCA/lactone concentrate mixture was then heated toabout 60° C. until the pH of the mixture was stable between pH 8.8-9.2,to yield a stabilized K/Mg-DDM-HCA-containing mixture. The K/Mg-DDM-HCAswere then isolated from the stabilized K/Mg-DDM-HCA-containing mixtureby concentrating the stabilized K/Mg-DDM-HCA-containing solution toabout 25% weight total solids to yield a concentratedK/Mg-DDM-HCA-containing solution. The concentrate was stored in astorage tank prior to spray drying. The concentratedK/Mg-DDM-HCA-containing solution was filtered and theK/Mg-DDM-HCA-containing filtrate was dried using spray drying technique.

B. Preparation of K/Mg-HCA Monomer

K/Mg-HCA monomer having the general Formula IV, supra, was prepared asdescribed below. The K/Mg-HCA was prepared from a concentrated aqueousextract of the fruit of a plant of the genus Garcinia that contained(−)-hydroxycitrate as the free acid as well as HCA lactone, i.e.,HCA/lactone concentrate mixture prepared as a 2% weight HCA/lactoneconcentrate mixture as detailed above in Section A of this Example.

A volume of the 2% weight HCA/lactone concentrate mixture equal to 50 kgequivalents of HCA was partially neutralized with 1 molar equivalent ofthe liquid HCA/lactone concentrate mixture with 1 molar equivalent of amagnesium hydroxide. The magnesium hydroxide was slowly added as a 10%(w/w) solution with mixing to the liquid HCA/lactone concentrate mixtureunder conditions wherein the reaction temperature was maintained atleast about 30° C. to yield a partially neutralized liquid HCA/lactoneconcentrate mixture.

After partial neutralization with magnesium hydroxide, the liquidHCA/lactone concentrate mixture was slowly reacted (with mixing) withone (1) molar equivalent of potassium hydroxide as a 30% w/w solution ofthe group IA metal hydroxide to yield a fully neutralized liquidHCA/lactone concentrate mixture. The fully neutralized liquidHCA/lactone concentrate mixture was then heated to about 60° C. untilthe pH of the mixture was stable between pH 8.8 and pH 9.2 to yield astabilized K/Mg-HCA monomer preparation. The K/Mg-HCA monomer was thenisolated from the stabilized K/Mg-HCA monomer preparation byconcentrating the stabilized K/Mg-HCA monomer preparation to about 25%weight total solids to yield a concentrated K/Mg-HCA monomer solution.The concentrate was stored in a storage tank prior to drying. Theconcentrated K/Mg-HCA monomer solution was filtered and the K/Mg-HCAmonomer-containing filtrate was dried using spray drying technique.

EXAMPLE 2 Comparison of Oral HCA Compositions Regarding Serum PlasmaBioavailability in a Rabbit Study

An independent study conducted by a third party, using a validatedmethod for quantification of HCA (developed by Balint AnalyticalLaboratory, Budapest, Hungary) compared the levels of HCA in the serumof New Zealand white rabbits in response to oral gavage with two HCApreparations at a dose of 50 mg/kg body weight: (1) a preparation of theinventive DDM-HCA composition (67.31% HCA (KMg 24.33%/4.02%) and (2)Super Citrimax™ containing potassium-calcium HCA (Interhealth). Thirtyminutes after receiving the respective preparations, the group of threerabbits receiving the inventive DDM-HCA preparation had a mean serum HCAlevel of 11.3 μg/mL, a value 45.8% higher than the 6.13 μg/mL serumvalue of the group of three rabbits receiving the Super Citrimax™preparation. These results demonstrate a superior bioavailability of HCAwhen it is delivered orally in the from of the inventive DDM-HCAcomposition, as detailed in Table 1.

EXAMPLE 3 Testing DDM-HCA in a Rat Model

An OM rat model is useful to test the biological properties of theDDM-HCA dosage unit forms of the invention. Briefly, male OM rats aged10 weeks are fed a diet in which 30% of the calories are obtained fromfat under standard conditions. Groups of 5-10 rats are intubated twicedaily for 60 days with DDM-HCA dosage unit forms (e.g., 0.01 mmoles/kgbody weight to 1 mole/kg body weight equivalent) or vehicle-controlsolutions with no added DDM-HCA. Blood is withdrawn from the tail veinone or more times daily. The pharmacokinetics of HCA-containing dosageunit form, including absorption, is determined by measuring the HCAlevel in the blood of subjects administered the HCA-containing dosageunit form using gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy (Loe et al., AnalBiochem. 2001,1; 292(1): 148-54; and Loe et al., FASEB Journal, 2001,154:632, Abs. 501.1). Body weight of the test subjects as well as, bloodlevels of lipids, hormones and metabolic indicators are measured; suchindicators may include, for example, LDL and HDL, glucocorticoids,leptin, insulin, and corticosterone level (see U.S. Pat. No. 6,482,858of Clouatre, issued Nov. 19, 2002). Such measurements are taken prior tothe DDM-HCA treatment, over the course of the 60 days, and when theanimals are sacrificed at the termination of the study. Data from thevarious experimental and control groups are compared and statisticallyanalyzed using the Students t-test (one- or two-tailed P-values) orANOVA. A P-value of less than or equal to about 0.05 is consideredstatistically significant. A statistically significant alteration, e.g.,increase or decrease, in an experimental parameter of test subjectsreceiving DDM-HCA dosage unit form compared to subjects receivingplacebo indicates that the DDM-HCA dosage unit form is a form capable ofthe prevention or treatment of diseases or conditions characterized byalterations in such parameters.

Equivalents of the Invention

While a number of particular embodiments of the invention and variationsthereof have been described in detail, other modifications and methodsof using the disclosed therapeutic combinations will be apparent tothose of skill in the art. Accordingly, it should be understood thatvarious applications, modifications, and substitutions may be made ofequivalents without departing from the spirit of the invention or thescope of the claims. Various terms and conventions have been used in thedescription to convey an understanding of the invention. It will beunderstood that a corresponding description of these various termsapplies to common linguistic or grammatical variations or forms of thesevarious terms. It will also be understood that some compounds have beenidentified by trade names, but that these names are provided ascontemporary examples, and the invention is not limited by such literalscope, particularly when compounds have been described in chemicalterms. Although the written description offers biochemical theory andinterpretation of available data in describing the invention, it shouldbe understood that such theory and interpretation do not bind or limitthe claims. Further, it should be understood that the invention is notlimited to the embodiments set forth herein for purposes ofexemplification, but is to be defined only by a fair reading of theappended claims, including the full range of equivalency to which eachelement thereof is entitled.

1. A composition comprising at least one dimeric, double metal salt ofgroup IA and group IIA of (−)-hydroxycitric acid selected from the groupconsisting of: Formula I; Formula II; and Formula III, or any mixturethereof, as given below:

wherein X IS IIA group metal: Be, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, or Ka; wherein Y is IAgroup metal: Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs, or Fr; and wherein the relative molarratio of IIA group metal to IA group metal is from at least about1.0:3.5 to at least about 1.0:4.5.
 2. The composition of claim 1,wherein (i) X is magnesium metal; (ii) Y is potassium metal; and (iii)the relative molar ratio of magnesium metal to potassium metal is fromat least about 1.0:3.5 to at least about 1.0:4.5.
 3. The composition ofclaim 1, wherein the composition is formulated in a dry delivery system.4. The composition of claim 3, wherein the dry delivery system isselected from the group consisting of: a tablet; a dry powder; and a drymeal replacement mixture.
 5. The composition of claim 1, wherein thecomposition is formulated in a liquid delivery system.
 6. Thecomposition of claim 5, wherein the liquid delivery system is selectedfrom the group consisting of: a capsule; a caplet; and a beverage. 7.The composition of claim 1, wherein the composition is formulated fororal delivery in a form selected from the group consisting of: a tablet;a caplet; and a capsule.
 8. The composition of claim 1, furthercomprising a pharmaceutically-acceptable carrier.
 9. The composition ofclaim 1, wherein the total chloride content is less than about 1% byweight.
 10. The composition of claim 1, wherein the total chloridecontent is less than about 0.6% by weight.
 11. A process for preparing acomposition comprising at least one dimeric, double metal salts of groupIA and group IIA of (−)-hydroxycitric acid selected from the groupconsisting of: Formula l; Formula II; and Formula III, or any mixturethereof, as Given below:

wherein X is IIA group metal: Be, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, or Ra; wherein Y is IAgroup metal: Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs, or Fr; and wherein the relative molarratio of IIA group metal to IA group metal is from at least about 1:3.5to at least about 1:4.5, comprising the steps of: a. preparing a liquid(−)-hydroxycitric acid/lactone concentrate mixture; b. partiallyneutralizing 2 molar equivalents of the liquid (−)-hydroxycitricacid/lactone concentrate mixture with 4 molar equivalents of a group IAmetal hydroxide under conditions wherein the reaction temperature ismaintained from at least about 27° C. to at least about 33° C. to yielda partially neutralized liquid (−)-hydroxycitric acid/lactoneconcentrate mixture; c. reacting the partially neutralized liquid(−)-hydroxycitric acid/lactone concentrate mixture of step b with one(1) molar equivalent of a IIA metal hydroxide to yield a fullyneutralized liquid (−)-hydroxycitric acid/lactone concentrate mixture;d. hydrolyzing the lactone component of the fully neutralized liquid(−)-hydroxycitric acid/lactone concentrate mixture of step c by heatingthe mixture to at least about 60° C. until the pH of the mixture isstable from about pH 8.8 to about pH 9.2 to yield a (−)-hydroxycitricacid dimeric double metal salt solution; and e. isolating the dimeric,double metal salts of group IA and group IIA of (−)-hydroxycitric acidfrom the (−)-hydroxycitric acid dimeric, double metal salt solution ofstep d.
 12. The process of claim 11, wherein step A, the preparing a(−)-hydroxycitric acid/lactone concentrate mixture, is by extracting a(−)-hydroxycitric acid/lactone concentrate mixture from dried Garciniarind.
 13. The process of claim 12, wherein extracting the(−)-hydroxycitric acid/lactone concentrate mixture comprises thefollowing steps: a. extracting (−)-hydroxycitric acid from a driedGarcinia rind with demineralized water in an extractor for at leastabout 6 h to yield a first Garcinia extract and a once-extractedGarcinia rind; b. filtering the first Garcinia extract of step a; c.extracting the once-extracted Garcinia rind of step a with demineralizedwater in an extractor for at least about 6 h to yield a second Garciniaextract and a twice-extracted Garcinia rind; d. filtering the secondGarcinia extract of step c; e. extracting the twice-extracted Garciniaof step c with demineralized water in an extractor for at least about 6h to yield a third Garcinia extract and a three-times-extracted Garciniarind; f. filtering the third Garcinia extract of step e; g. extractingthe three-times-extracted Garcinia rind of step e with demineralizedwater in an extractor for at least about 6 h yield a fourth Garciniaextract and a four-times-extracted Garcinia rind; h. filtering thefourth Garcinia extract of step f; i. combining the filtered Garciniaextracts from step b, step d, step f and step h to yield a combinedGarcinia mixture; j. homogenizing the combined Garcinia extract mixture;k. loading the homogenized Garcinia extract mixture of step j onto ananion exchange column for adsorption of the (−)-hydroxycitric acid ontothe anion exchange column for adsorption of the (−)-hydroxycitric acidonto the anion exchange column; l. eluting the (−)-hydroxycitric acidfrom the anion exchange column with sodium hydroxide solution to yieldan anion exchange purified (−)-hydroxycitric acid sodium salt solution;m. loading the purified (−)-hydroxycitric acid sodium salt of step Ionto a cation exchange column for collection of free (−)-hydroxycitricacid as a free acid in a cation exchange purified (−)-hydroxycitric acidsolution; n. bleaching the cation exchange purified (−)-hydroxycitricacid solution of step m by mixing the cation exchange purified(−)-hydroxycitric acid solution with activated charcoal for 1 h at 80°C. to yield a bleached (−)-hydroxycitric acid solution; o. cooling thebleached (−)-hydroxycitric acid solution to room temperature; p.filtering the bleached (−)-hydroxycitric acid; q. loading the bleached(−)-hydroxycitric acid solution of step p onto a cation exchange columnto reduce the cation concentration of the bleached (−)-hydroxycitricacid solution; r. loading the bleached (−)-hydroxycitric acid solutionof step q onto an anion exchange column to reduce the chlorideconcentration of the bleached (−)-hydroxycitric acid solution to yield a(−)-hydroxycitric acid concentrate with at least about 1.0 percentweight (−)-hydroxycitric acid concentration; and s. aging the(−)-hydroxycitric acid concentrate of step r to yield the liquid(−)-hydroxycitric acid/lactone concentrate mixture; wherein the liquid(−)-hydroxycitric acid/lactone concentrate mixture wherein the(−)-hydroxycitric acid lactone is present at a concentration of leastabout 20% weight percent of the total weight of the liquid(−)-hydroxycitric acid/lactone concentrate mixture.
 14. The process ofclaim 11, wherein step e, isolating the dimeric, double metal salts ofgroup IA and group IIA of (−)-hydroxycitric acid from the(−)-hydroxycitric acid dimeric double metal salt solution, comprises thesubsteps:
 1. concentrating the (−)-hydroxycitric acid dimeric, doublemetal salt solution to at least about 25% weight percent total solids toyield a concentrated (−)-hydroxycitric acid dimeric, double metal saltsolution;
 2. filtering the concentrated (−)-hydroxycitric acid dimeric,double metal salt solution of step a to yield a filtrate; and
 3. dryingthe filtrate of step b.
 15. The process of claim 14, wherein step 3, thedrying of the filtrate, is a spray drying.
 16. The process of claim 11,wherein the group IA metal hydroxide is selected from the groupconsisting of: LiOH, NaOH, KOH, RbOH, CsOH, and FrOH.
 17. The process ofclaim 11, wherein the group IIA metal hydroxide is selected from thegroup consisting of: Be(OH)₂, Mg(OH)₂, Ca(OH)₂, Sr(OH)₂, Ba(OH)₂, andRa(OH)₂.
 18. A method of suppressing appetite in a subject, the methodcomprising administering to a subject, a subject in which appetitesuppression is desired, the composition of claim 1 in an amountsufficient to suppress the appetite in the subject.
 19. A method ofreducing cytoplasmic citrate lyase activity in a subject, the methodcomprising administering to the subject, a subject in which reducingcytoplasmic citrate lyase activity is desired, the composition of claim1 in an amount sufficient to reduce the citrate lyase activity.
 20. Amethod of increasing the fat metabolism in a subject, the methodcomprising administering to a subject, a subject in which increased fatmetabolism is desired, the composition of claim 1 in an amountsufficient to increase fat metabolism.
 21. A method of inducingweight-loss in a subject, the method comprising administering to asubject, a subject in which weight-loss is desired, the composition ofclaim 1 in an amount sufficient to induce weight-loss.
 22. A method ofreducing blood lipids and postprandial lipemia in a subject, the methodcomprising administering to a subject, a subject in which reduced bloodlipids and postprandial lipemia are desired, the composition of claim 1in an amount sufficient to reduce blood lipids and postprandial lipemia.23. A method of modulating the level of (−)-hydroxycitric acid in theplasma of a subject, the method comprising administering to a subject, asubject in which modulation of the rate of appearance of(−)-hydroxycitric acid in the plasma of the subject is desired, thecomposition of claim 1 in an amount sufficient to increase the level ofthe (−)-hydroxycitric acid in the plasma of the subject.
 24. The methodof claim 23, wherein the level of (−)-hydroxycitric acid in the plasmaof the subject having been administered the composition of claim 1 issignificantly greater than level of (−)-hydroxycitric acid in the plasmaof the subject prior to administration of the composition.
 25. Themethod of claim 23, wherein the increased level of (−)-hydroxycitricacid in the plasma of the subject having been administered thecomposition of claim 1 is increased due to the influx of the DDM-HCAs ofthe composition into the circulatory system of the subject.